PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wayne McCullough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ritchie Swiper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swiper has chosen High Hopes as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

McCullough
vs
Swiper

169 cm
24
144 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

164 cm
22
143 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Wayne McCullough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Ritchie Swiper!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCullough throws a good cross that connects.

Swiper rushes McCullough and presses him up against the cage.
Swiper with a knee to the head.

It looks like Wayne McCullough has been cut.

McCullough breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
McCullough stuffs the takedown attempt from Swiper. Swiper gets slowly back to his feet.
McCullough tries a low kick but Swiper avoids it.
Swiper gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Swiper forces McCullough back against the cage and clinches.

McCullough breaks the clinch.
McCullough throws a chopping leg kick but Swiper manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McCullough throws a sloppy head kick and Swiper moves out of range easily.
A nice combination there by McCullough.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A decent looking cross lands there for McCullough.
Swiper slips under a jab from McCullough.

Swiper closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Swiper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McCullough, who protects the arm well.
McCullough wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swiper is looking to take a break and control but McCullough is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Swiper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCullough knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Swiper misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Swiper working away.
McCullough on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McCullough tries to get out of the position.
McCullough sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCullough desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McCullough flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
McCullough tries to roll over but Swiper keeps him under control.
Swiper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McCullough does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McCullough wants to improve his position but Swiper is controlling well.
Swiper wants to stand but McCullough has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McCullough wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swiper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCullough defending well though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McCullough scores with a decent looking hook.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McCullough pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCullough comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Swiper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Swiper doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wayne McCullough is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swiper looks gassed!
Decent striking displayed by McCullough there.
Swiper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCullough swivels and escapes.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ritchie Swiper.
McCullough misses with the combination.
Swiper connects with a solid leg kick.
McCullough thumps Swiper with a low kick.
McCullough misses with a low kick as Swiper jumps back.
Swiper shoots in and drives through. McCullough sprawls well.
McCullough lands with a nice combination. Swiper backs away looking to recover.
McCullough lands a jab to Swiper's midsection.
McCullough tries to close the distance and clinch but Swiper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullough lands a jab to the nose.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swiper checks the leg kick.
Swiper takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Swiper fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Swiper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCullough tries to avoid it but Swiper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCullough to the ground. McCullough escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

McCullough moves into range and clinches up with Swiper.
McCullough has had enough of the clinch but Swiper keeps him there for the moment.
McCullough avoids the elbow strike from Swiper, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McCullough.
McCullough is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCullough wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCullough wants to get back to striking at distance but Swiper won't allow it.

McCullough's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swiper fails with the takedown.
Swiper shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swiper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullough.
McCullough throws a series of punches but Swiper avoids them all with ease.
Swiper looks for a takedown but McCullough sprawls well.
McCullough throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne McCullough dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wayne McCullough's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Swiper fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McCullough scores with a jab to the head.
McCullough fails with an attempt to clinch.
Swiper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCullough thows a leg kick but Swiper checks it
and Swiper counters with a right hand to the body.
Swiper takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice straight punches there by McCullough. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McCullough.

Swiper closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McCullough tries to improve position but can't.
McCullough manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Swiper trying to mount his opponent but McCullough defends it.
McCullough trying to hold on to Swiper's head to control him but Swiper postures up.
Swiper wants to control but McCullough is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swiper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McCullough controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
McCullough moves into full guard.
Swiper controls from within his opponent's guard.
Swiper trying to control the position from guard on top but McCullough is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Swiper loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McCullough wants to stand and escape but Swiper is having none of it.
McCullough will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Swiper drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swiper jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Swiper with a flurry of punches that miss.
McCullough pulls Swiper in close to prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Swiper is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McCullough.
Swiper misses with a takedown attempt - McCullough sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ritchie Swiper.
Swiper tries for a takedown but McCullough sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCullough wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Swiper has him pressed against the cage.

Swiper gets control of McCullough's arms and successfully pulls guard. Swiper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
McCullough stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swiper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCullough works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Swiper is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but McCullough pulls his head out easily.
Swiper trying to control here.
McCullough is taking a breather. Swiper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swiper tries to push off, looking to stand up, but McCullough manages to move to mount!
Swiper tries to lock up and control but McCullough gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McCullough controlling the position easily from mount.
Swiper is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne McCullough dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wayne McCullough's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McCullough attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nice sprawl there from McCullough as Swiper shoots in.
McCullough with a nice cross.
Swiper checks a leg kick.
McCullough listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McCullough scores with a nice strike.
McCullough connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Swiper swats away the attempt to clinch by McCullough.
McCullough's corner calls for a 1-2. McCullough obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Swiper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McCullough is fending him off so far but Swiper persists. Nope, McCullough circles away and we're back to standing.
McCullough throws a body punch but Swiper moves out of range.
Swiper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McCullough but McCullough pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ritchie Swiper.
McCullough throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Swiper.
Swiper shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Swiper blocks a head kick by McCullough.
Swiper walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A head kick misses from Swiper.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swiper gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ritchie Swiper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullough fails in his attempt to clinch.
McCullough throws a leg kick but Swiper moved away.

Swiper looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swiper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McCullough manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McCullough trying to control but Swiper is having none of it.
McCullough blocks Swiper's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swiper swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
McCullough controlling the pace for now.
McCullough looking to control but Swiper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Swiper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swiper really wants to buck McCullough off and get back to his feet.
Swiper tries to hold on but McCullough postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullough takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
McCullough avoids the attempt from Swiper to control.
Swiper regains half guard.
Ritchie Swiper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swiper wants to improve his position but McCullough is controlling well.
Swiper wants to control but McCullough is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

McCullough decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Swiper has a takedown stuffed.
McCullough is looking to score with low kicks.
Swiper wants to clinch up but McCullough keeps it at a distance.
McCullough connects with the punch.
McCullough throws out a leg kick but Swiper moves out of range and McCullough only half commits.
McCullough keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Swiper moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Swiper has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
McCullough swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Swiper.
McCullough connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McCullough throws a jab when Swiper was well out of range.
McCullough lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swiper circles away quickly and effectively.

Swiper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wayne McCullough is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Swiper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayne McCullough showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCullough, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne McCullough!